Further to Diddle-e-squat

Posted by Smokey Stover on September 30, 2005

In Reply to: Further to Diddle-e-squat posted by Bob on September 30, 2005

: : : Further to 'Diddle-e-squat' - one can draw out from the usage by carnies as a charge for sitting in on travelling games of chance, that it was 'a diddle a squat', or a small amount of money for each 'squat' at the gambling circle. Who hasn't seen in old movies or on tv people squatting in a circle over dice or cards?

: : An interesting explanation. Do you have a reliable source to show that this is how the phrase actually developed, not just that it might have?

: My question exactly. There seem to be a number of leaps of faith in the story.

This is the first time I have seen it spelled any way but "diddly squat," meaning "nothing," or possibly "virtually nothing." SS